3rd Infantry Division (South Korea)

3rd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division insignia
Founded May 12, 1949 (1949-05-12)
Country  South Korea
Branch Republic of Korea Army
Type Infantry
Part of 5th Corps (Republic of Korea)
Nickname(s) "White Skull"
Engagements Korean War

The 3rd Infantry Division is a unit of the Republic of Korea Army.

History

First formed as the 3rd brigade on December 1, 1947. On December 24, 1949, the division conducted the Mungyeong massacre.[1] The unit was upgraded to a division on May 12, 1949. The Division consists of the 18th, 22nd, 23rd and Infantry Regiments.[2]

The division was under the direct control of the Republic of Korea Army after the first fall of Seoul.

Was part of the defensive line to slow the North Korean advance from Seoul to Daejeon.

Fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.[3]

After the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, fierce battles were fought in the harbor village of Pohang between the 3rd Division and the NKPA's 5th Division. The 3rd finally captured the village during the morning of the twentieth. They continued to attack aggressively, forcing a disorderly withdrawal by the NKPA toward Yongdok.[4] During the course of the war, the 3rd Infantry Division took part in over 150 battles, killing and capturing more than 51,000 enemy soldiers. It is also known as the invincible unit because it has never lost a single battle. They are the frontline troops.[5]

Current structure

Troops of the Division dressed in traditional uniforms.
  • Headquarters:
    • Anti-Tank Company
    • DMZ Patrol Company
    • Armor Battalion
    • Signal Battalion
    • Reconnaissance Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Support Battalion
    • Medical Battalion
    • Chemical Battalion
  • 18th Infantry Regiment
  • 22nd Infantry Regiment
  • 23rd Infantry Regiment
  • Artillery Regiment

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jeong Hee-san (2000-01-13). "문경 양민 학살 진실 밝혀질까 문경 양민 학살 유족들, 헌법 소원 내기로…정부, 50년 동안 외면". Sisapress. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  2. ↑ Pike, John. "3rd Infantry Division". www.globalsecurity.org.
  3. ↑ Webb, William J. The Korean War: The Outbreak. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 19-6.
  4. ↑ Gammons, Stephen L.Y. The Korean War: The UN Offensive. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 19-7. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12.
  5. ↑ http://www.army.mil.kr/


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